Cyclone Receivers for Filterless Pneumatic Conveying

With material suitable for cyclonic separation, cyclones prove to be effective as filterless pneumatic receivers. This can be a big advantage in applications where the location makes it difficult to maintain cloth-based filters. The filterless cyclone receiver is ideal for conveying clean, pelletized materials without fines, or in applications where complete separation isn't required.

A good pneumatic system efficiently separates material from the flow of air when it reaches the destination.

When the material is of a consistency and weight suitable for cyclonic separation, a cyclone is used in place of a filter.

The cyclone has no moving parts, no bags to clean, and plant air and electricity are not needed for operation. Whether you are moving 125 or 6,000 CFM of air, there is a cyclone to meet your needs.

The cyclone in operation

The cyclone is configured to accelerate the natural separation of material from air.

The inlet provides gradual, non-turbulent expansion of the material/airstream, directing the material down through a tangential spiral.

The material is further decelerated as it swirls around the body of the cyclone while the long cone provides space for it to separate from the conveying air and settle to the cone discharge. The exhaust outlet is sized to decrease air velocity, further helping to separate the last of material particles from the air.

When to use cyclones for filterless or self-cleaning filter conveying

If the material being conveyed is of a consistency and weight suitable for cyclonic separation, cyclones can be used as receivers, including applications where the location does not allow the maintenance of a cloth-based filter. 

For example, this allows the cyclones to be positioned on top of the destination with a secondary filter remotely located. The large particles remain in the cyclones, while the product fines are collected downstream in the self-cleaning filter.

This eliminates the need for filter cleaning and other maintenance at each receiver. Most maintenance is confined to the filter, which has been conveniently located.

For applications where complete separation is not required

The cyclone can be used in size classification systems where material is being passed through a screener and small amounts of material remain in the exhaust airstream.

The cyclone receives the material, directing the large particles downward through a tangential spiral where they separate from the conveying air. The small amount of fines that would have passed through the screener remain in the exhaust airstream to be reintroduced into the conveying line downstream.

This filterless conveying system eliminates the need for filter bag cleaning and reduces the number of parts requiring maintenance.

For material containing no fines

The cyclone is ideal for handling clean, pelletized materials without fines.

The cyclonic separation of material and air allows the material to discharge from the bottom of the cyclone while the conveying air exhausts at the top.

For example, this lets the cyclone be used as a receiver/separator in our single-blower, vacuum/pressure rail unload system. The cyclone receives the material from the railcar by vacuum, separating the material from the conveying air and dropping the material into the pressure side of the system.

Cyclone sizes

Inlet sizes range from 2-inch to 20-inch diameters. Flanged discharge diameters range from 4-inch to 16-inch I.D. To simplify installation, right-hand or left-hand inlet and exhaust arrangements are available.

Materials of construction

Materials of construction include carbon steel, aluminum, and stainless steel. Stainless steel construction is an excellent choice for abrasive and/or corrosive material as well as food-grade material.